Columbia River Fishing Report: Spring Chinook, Smallmouth, and Walleye Action Heats Up

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Columbia River fishing report for March 21, 2025. We're looking at a mixed bag of weather today, with partly cloudy skies and temps in the mid-50s. Sunrise was at 7:12 AM, and sunset will be at 7:24 PM, giving us plenty of daylight hours on the water. Tides are running about average, with low tide at 10:45 AM and high tide at 4:30 PM. The spring Chinook run is starting to pick up steam, with decent catches reported near Buoy 10 and up towards the Willamette River confluence. Anglers are having success trolling herring or anchovies behind flashers, as well as using Simon Cut Plugs in chartreuse or silver/blue patterns. Smallmouth bass fishing has been hot lately, especially around the rocky areas near Sauvie Island and the mouth of the Sandy River. Soft plastics like Yamamoto Senkos in green pumpkin or watermelon red have been producing well, as have small crankbaits like the Berkley Flicker Shad in shad or crawdad colors. Walleye fishing has been steady, with good numbers being caught near the Portland Airport and downriver towards Kalama. Blade baits like the Silver Buddy or Cicada in 1/4 to 3/8 oz sizes have been the ticket, especially when jigged near the bottom in 20-40 feet of water. For those looking to target some sturgeon, catch-and-release fishing has been productive near the I-5 Bridge and downstream towards Hayden Island. Fresh sand shrimp or pickled squid have been the go-to baits. Hot spots to check out this week include the area around Multnomah Channel for spring Chinook, the rocky shorelines near Rooster Rock State Park for smallmouth, and the deep holes near Kalama for walleye. Remember to check your regulations before heading out, and don't forget to pick up your Columbia River Basin Endorsement if you haven't already. Tight lines, everyone! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.